I think I'm getting a Nespresso this week, the Latissima. It might be like the non-iron shirt of espresso, but I had one at the store/cafe on Madison the other day and it was pretty good, and incredibly convenient.

After growing up with so much (beautiful) clutter I love living in a very pure, sparse place, where the few objects that require necessary exposure are as much chosen for their looks as they are for their performance.

I can't conceive of owning many of the coffee machines that have been posted in this thread. I'd always turn to a high-quality Italian brand, of which Rocket is a good example.

Are there other Gaggia Classic owners here? I'm finding that the only preground coffee I can buy is Illy as everything else isn't ground fine enough. When I buy beans, even grinding them to Turkish coffee fineness isn't enough -- I end up having to regrind and tamp really hard in order for the espresso to brew adequately. Anyone else finding this to be the case?

I think I'm getting a Nespresso this week, the Latissima. It might be like the non-iron shirt of espresso, but I had one at the store/cafe on Madison the other day and it was pretty good, and incredibly convenient.

I have no interest in getting one of these things, but I agree; the product they serve at the shop on Madison is very good. Look into the small cup coffees they serve there as well - those were really good.

Are there other Gaggia Classic owners here? I'm finding that the only preground coffee I can buy is Illy as everything else isn't ground fine enough. When I buy beans, even grinding them to Turkish coffee fineness isn't enough -- I end up having to regrind and tamp really hard in order for the espresso to brew adequately. Anyone else finding this to be the case?

I think I'm getting a Nespresso this week, the Latissima. It might be like the non-iron shirt of espresso, but I had one at the store/cafe on Madison the other day and it was pretty good, and incredibly convenient.

I've used Nespresso for at least 12 or 13 years now and I chuckle (internally) when I visit friends with more "prestigious" equipment, who grind their own coffee and serve me a result that is significantly inferior to the N espresso.

IMO, there's nothing wrong with the Nespresso equipment or system itself either - great, durable machines, great quality beans. If that makes you feel better, Corton, a 2 Michelin star restaurant, serves only Nespresso at the end of meals.

This is not the equivalent of the non-iron shirt at all. It's a perfect example of OTT snubbism that's disconnected from the reality of the product's quality.

I've used Nespresso for at least 12 or 13 years now and I chuckle (internally) when I visit friends with more "prestigious" equipment, who grind their own coffee and serve me a result that is significantly inferior to the N espresso.

IMO, there's nothing wrong with the Nespresso equipment or system itself either - great, durable machines, great quality beans. If that makes you feel better, Corton, a 2 Michelin star restaurant, serves only Nespresso at the end of meals.

This is not the equivalent of the non-iron shirt at all. It's a perfect example of OTT snubbism that's disconnected from the reality of the product's quality.

I second that, I also have been using a Nespresso machine for a while, Its fast, easy, and makes consistently good coffee.

I've used Nespresso for at least 12 or 13 years now and I chuckle (internally) when I visit friends with more "prestigious" equipment, who grind their own coffee and serve me a result that is significantly inferior to the N espresso.

IMO, there's nothing wrong with the Nespresso equipment or system itself either - great, durable machines, great quality beans. If that makes you feel better, Corton, a 2 Michelin star restaurant, serves only Nespresso at the end of meals.

This is not the equivalent of the non-iron shirt at all. It's a perfect example of OTT snubbism that's disconnected from the reality of the product's quality.

my machine can accomodate both fresh beans and the ESE pods. The pods are so much easier to deal with, are much more consistent, and don't cause the same mess that I inevitably create with the grinder and tamper.